Christmas tree holder



Dec. 9, 1947. v 0, FRYIEMOTH 2,432,233

' CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER Filed July 2, 1945' Patented Dec. 9, 1947 pair rs eraa'r easier.

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to complementary interfitting elements providing axial clamps or stable positioning means.

This invention has utility when incorporated in Christmas tree holders, and the like.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention in tree setting up or holding position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of one of the blanks for a base arm, with the other base arms complete and spaced by a strut member outwardly swung; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, in section, of the centering pin at the base arm junction region.

A radiating arm I of a T-shaped element extends to an outer cross portion 2, terminally provided with ears 3 having therein notches l slanted slightly outward. This element l, 2, 3, t, is of sheet metal. An initial stage of this element may be in the form of a flat blank. The fiat blank is re-formed by bending the ears up to approximately right angles to the plane of the blank to provide bearings 5 at the notches 4. The radiating arms l, 6, at their inner portion have openings '11 for a centering pin 8 having at its base a flush rivet connection 9 with the third arm ll of the base assembly. At the l2il spacing for the three arms i, ii, it, there are therebetween aligned pairs of the pivot bearing notches or slots The three element base comprises sheet metal parts of identical contour produced from a common stamping die or pattern. The sole distinction is that in the member to be located at the bottom, has in lieu of the opening 5, a pin 8 riveted therewith.

Inasmuch as the arms I, 5, it], are free to swing relative to each other on the pin 8 as an axis, rigidity of set-up is achieved by providing spacer means between the pairs of aligned bearings 4 of the portions 5 of the diverging arms. The portions 5 on a common arm are 120 apart in their direction lines.

A strut spacer it has aligned outwardly projecting T-heads E2 to provide pivot bearings riding downward and outward in the slots t. The rockable members I i so assembled positively lock the three base elements in the symmetrically spaced relation. These triangularly shaped spacers it have at their apices a slight bend or offset l3 terminating in teeth or points i i. In Fig. 1, the member ll, shown in front elevation, has not had its points It bent inwardly toward engaging position with the object to be held or tree trunk I6.

To bring the merchandise item into usable shape, the radiating base arms l, 6, ID, are assembled on the pivot pin 8 and swung apart to approximate uniform spacing. The spacers II then have their pairs of ears or heads I2 dropped into the seats 4 to provide the pivot bearings. A base I5 of a tree trunk I6, is then jammed more or less firmly on the pin 8, at least sufficiently firm to hold it central therewith. Then with the tree held upright in the desired vertical position the base being flat on the floor, the spacers II are swung toward the trunk I6 to gouge or imbed thereinto. The showing in Fig. 1 is with the rear two of these spacers imbedded in the trunk I6, while the third spacer II is not so positioned.

For packing or out-of-use storage, the two sets of three similar sheet metal elements are readily uncoupled by lifting apart. To consider the assembly as three pair, each pair is then made up of one base arm and one spacer to constitute one third of the peripheral extent of the unit to be assembled.

The parts or members are of form for economical production in being stamped, out in the fiat, with the ears 5 to be struck up from the cross portions at the ends of the base arms, and with the slight bend It to give more direct imbedding direction to the points I4 on the spacers for tree trunk engagement. While the biting action of the points I4 may be firm for a peripheral clamping of the trunk IE, a release is readily had by pulling upward adjacent the bend I3, thus to swing the points It out of the tree trunk I6,

The play of the bearings at the pivot pin 8 and at the notches 4 is such that while there is the uniform spacing between the radiating arms I, 6, I0, of the base, there is frictional freedom for the upward and inward swing of the respective spacers II. However, as the points or teeth M impinge upon the trunk N5, the base portions of the struts or spacers II are crowded outward. The upward and inward inclination of the slots 4 provides sufficient holding engagement that the spacers II do not tend to snap upward clear of the base arms. This crowding action radially outward, places the several base arms I, 6, I0, under tension as to the central pin 8, and imparts at once a stiffness or rigidity to the assembly, which is substantial in practice. A strong light weight sheet metal unit, automatically adjustable over a wide range of tree trunk sizes, is available. The floor contacting portions are flat thruout to approximate a plane,

thereby avoiding any cause for concern by way of marring or disfiguring the fine floors 0r floor coverings. The pivot points for the spacers H are at the extremities of their base portions and close to the floor, insuring a 10w center of gravity as well as a maximum diameter holder or base. Effective upright holding of the tree against the tendency to tip or totter is attained, with a minimum Weight base support.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patentis A holder for Christmas trees and the like com prising three radiating arms pivoted about a central pin, each arm having at its outer end a substantially triangular section, the inwardly converging sides thereof having upwardly extending, notched flanges forming bearings, and three upwardly converging, triangular spacerpanels, each panel being provided at its base ends REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,023,340 Peskulich Dec. 3, 1935 1,873,471 Peterson Aug. 23, 1932 926,638 Barton June 29, 1909 1,401,144 Dicks Dec. 27, 1921 

